BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona’s champions league Wednesday’s quarter-final against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou will pit a teenage prodigy against one of La Liga’s fading greats.
Barcelona’s hopes of ending their 11-year wait for European Cup competition will largely depend on the performance of 18-year-old Lamine Yamal. The Spanish playmaker has scored in three successive Champions League games and his total of 21 goals in all competitions this season is tops for the team.
Atlético will look to forward Antoine Griezmann for inspiration. Atlético’s all-time top scorer wants to put an end to his brilliant run at the club 35-year-old moves to MLS.
The Spanish rivals will face each other five times in two months, with the second leg in Madrid next week.
Atlético defeated Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final in February, and Hansi Flick’s side got their revenge on Saturday. We won 2-1 away in the Spanish league. To further strengthen our lead in the league.
Barcelona are five-time European champions, but Diego Simeone’s Atlético side eliminated the Catalan club at the same stage in 2014 and 2016 en route to reaching the Champions League final.
Barcelona aims to advance to the semi-finals for the second consecutive year.
Atlético’s bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2017 will depend on a combination of defense and attacking options, including Julián Álvarez, Ademola Lookman and Alexander Sorloth.
Marcus Rashford is likely to start in place of the injured Rafinha at Barcelona.
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